Strahan M. Larsen, 52, of Concordia, MO, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2025, at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, 2025, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Grade School or Saint Paul Lutheran High School in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born May 28, 1973, at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, MS, he was the son of Rev. Steven and Heidi Larsen. Strahan was confirmed by his father, Rev. Steven Larsen, on May 4, 1986, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Long Beach, CA. Strahan was a 1991 graduate of Denver Lutheran High School in Denver, CO; he earned his Associate’s Degree in 1995 from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, CA; his Bachelor’s Degree in 2004 from Concordia University Texas in Austin, TX; and his Master’s Degree in 2011 from University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO.
Due to his father serving as an LCMS Chaplain in the Air Force, Strahan experienced life in many places including Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, California, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, and Japan. His adult life led him to Nebraska, Texas, and back to Missouri.
It was during his time in Nebraska that he spotted the girl he was going to marry, Sara Rotermund. After she finally got the courage to say “hi” to that long-haired, goatee-wearing, guitar-playing guy, the two began their adventure together and married on May 30, 1998, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sedalia, MO.
They lived in Texas for seven years. During that time Strahan suffered a tragic injury which confined him to a wheelchair for many months. This inconvenience did not stop him from volunteering at the school where Sara was teaching. That experience ultimately led him to his true Calling – Education. Strahan was determined to attend classes at Concordia, Austin without the wheelchair so he persevered in his physical therapy and showed up at his first class with only the use of a cane.
Their first son, Stettler, was born in 2005. That same year the Lord led Strahan to accept his first Call to teach at St. Paul’s Lutheran Elementary School in Concordia, MO. The initial plan was to stay in Concordia for about two years, clearly the Lord had a better plan in mind. Strahan and Sara established their household and welcomed their second son, Scout, in 2008.
During the next twenty years, Strahan earned a Master’s Degree, raised his sons, coached their grade school soccer teams, and thoroughly enjoyed watching them play any sport in which they were involved. He dedicated much time in careful planning and preparing engaging lessons as he was passionate about bringing education to life for his students.
When Strahan was in 4th Grade he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Living over forty years with the daily struggles of this disease empowered him to be an advocate for educating others and a mentor to students navigating the same diagnosis. He served his family, congregation, students, and the community with a quiet, loving, and faithful heart. The Lord decided Strahan’s earthly work was complete the afternoon of August 10, 2025, and therefore we say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Survivors include his wife, Sara Larsen, of the home; his parents, Rev. Steven and Heidi Larsen of Lake Jackson, TX; two children, Stettler Larsen of Independence, MO and Scout Larsen of Concordia, MO; and one sister, Ande Larsen (Justin Janis) of Lake Jackson, TX.